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The GEC Steering Group reviewed four strategic priorities, all of which were downgraded to 'amber' status due to the challenges and increased expectations brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. The group evaluated two major programmes: 'Economics for Nature' and the 'EC dialogues programme', emphasizing the need for better governance and integration with the GEC's COVID-19 campaign. The Steering Group unanimously decided that the GEC must launch a COVID-19 intervention, focusing on structural economic reforms and societal demand for a green recovery, while noting the need for additional funding to avoid unrealistic expectations.

The report finds that the production of fishmeal and fish oil (FMFO) for aquaculture is driving the collapse of fish stocks and compromising food security in India, Vietnam, and The Gambia. It establishes links between these unsustainable practices and major European retailers and aquafeed companies, arguing that current certification by the Marine Ingredients Organisation (IFFO) acts as a 'sustainability smokescreen'. The document recommends a total phase-out of wild-caught fish in aquafeed in favor of sustainable alternatives and a shift toward farming omnivorous or herbivorous species.

The report examines the global governance of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), noting a trend of weakening norms and rising threats. While highlighting successes like the 97% destruction of declared chemical weapons stockpiles and the near-universality of the NPT, CWC, and BWC, it warns of a new nuclear arms race and the increasing use of chemical weapons. It identifies critical gaps in verification—particularly for biological weapons—and the risks posed by technological convergence, such as synthetic biology and AI. The author recommends augmenting existing regimes with ad hoc mechanisms, increasing experiential learning for policymakers, and focusing on eliminating specific destabilizing capabilities like nuclear cruise missiles.

The GCF Board's 23rd meeting focused on operationalizing the fund's first formal replenishment (GCF-1) and improving governance. Key outcomes include the adoption of a new voting procedure to resolve deadlocks when consensus fails, the approval of a Policy on Ethics and Conflicts of Interest for Active Observers, and the adoption of a Policy on the Prevention and Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse, and Sexual Harassment (SEAH). The Board also approved several funding proposals, including a high-leverage seawater pumped storage project in Chile and agricultural resilience projects in Bhutan, Pakistan, and Kenya. A Forward-Looking Performance Review (FPR) highlighted that while GCF has committed over USD 5.3 billion, it faces challenges with long disbursement times and a need for greater direct access for developing countries.

The document evaluates forest governance in nine tropical countries, noting improvements in legal frameworks and multi-stakeholder engagement driven by Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) and REDD+. However, it highlights critical failures in cross-sectoral policy coherence, the rule of law, and the implementation of free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC). While transparency has increased through digital tools, accountability remains limited by corruption and insufficient resources for law enforcement.

The 2019 Arctic Council Conservation Scorecard finds that Arctic states are generally failing in their roles as stewards of the region, particularly regarding the regulation of marine shipping and the recognition of Indigenous peoples as full partners. While states performed well in ecosystem-based management and environmental impact assessments, they showed slow progress in safeguarding biodiversity and protecting conservation areas against climate change risks. The report specifically highlights a lack of governance in shipping and warns that new oil and gas developments are inconsistent with the Paris Agreement's 1.5-degree warming target.

The report examines the risks associated with the potential significant decline of South Africa's coal production over the next five to ten years. It highlights the high concentration of coal assets in Mpumalanga province and the resulting vulnerability of local employment and municipal revenues. The authors argue that a 'just transition' requires moving beyond technical energy models to address local-level impacts, including labor redeployment, economic diversification, and the remediation of environmental legacies. It identifies gaps in current governance, such as the conflict of interest within the Department of Mineral Resources, and suggests that existing mechanisms like Social and Labour Plans need systemic improvement to be effective.

The report finds that while some countries have strengthened forest laws, implementation remains slow and often undermined by corruption and a lack of political will. Illegal deforestation is driven largely by commercial agriculture, particularly in Brazil and Indonesia. Progress in recognizing the land rights of indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) is slow, and these groups face increasing violence and criminalization. While some emerging economies in Asia are adopting regulations to curb illegal timber imports, overall forest governance remains fragile, particularly in poorer nations.

The 2017 AdaptationWatch report argues that the Paris Agreement has shifted climate policy into an era of implementation, yet significant gaps remain in adaptation finance and transparency. It highlights that adaptation funding is overwhelmingly lower than mitigation funding and is often difficult for the most vulnerable nations to access due to complex accreditation processes and a lack of clear definitions distinguishing adaptation from general development. The report examines regional experiences, noting that while Latin American and Caribbean countries have made progress in institutional frameworks and GCF Readiness, Southeast Asia faces a disconnect between global finance scales and local needs. It also identifies a critical lack of compliance and standardized methodology in the Biennial Update Reports (BURs) of non-Annex I Parties, which obscures the actual amount of finance received. The document concludes with ten recommendations, emphasizing the need for increased adaptation finance, co-designing actions with local communities, and reorienting capacity building toward long-term, in-country ownership.

ClientEarth asserts that while the UK's Climate Change Act 2008 is legally ambitious, successive governments have failed to implement the necessary governance to meet long-term targets. The report highlights a persistent 'policy gap' for the fourth carbon budget and a decline in investor confidence due to abrupt policy shifts, such as the withdrawal of carbon capture and storage (CCS) funding. It recommends the urgent publication of a detailed, annually updated Emissions Reduction Plan and the restoration of cross-departmental coordination and transparent emissions tracking.

The IAI Executive Director Search Committee reports a delay in the selection process due to ambiguities regarding term limits and eligibility, specifically concerning the current Director, Holm Tiessen. The committee recommends suspending the current search to establish a formal, open advertisement and review process, rather than relying solely on member nominations. Proposed guidelines include a clear definition of the Director's term of service, a requirement for a transition overlap between incoming and outgoing directors, and a set of professional qualifications including 5-10 years of experience in scientific research grant management and proficiency in English and Spanish or Portuguese.

The report examines the shift in global climate governance from the top-down targets of the Kyoto Protocol to the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of the Paris Agreement. It highlights the 'ambition gap' in current pledges and argues that the success of the agreement depends on integrating the actions of non-state actors—such as cities, regions, and businesses—into national frameworks. The document details specific subnational initiatives like the C40 network and Brazil's CB27, while providing a case study of Singapore's role in the negotiations.

The document argues for a bottom-up, 21st-century approach to accountability for the 2030 Agenda, where the HLPF acts as the apex of a network of national, regional, and global reviews. It emphasizes the need for a coherent system to synthesize the vast amount of data from various UN bodies and national reports to avoid 'cacophony' and ensure the HLPF remains a deliberative body providing political guidance. Key proposals include the use of annual themes to integrate the SDGs, the creation of a searchable global database for all inputs, and the synchronization of national reviews to reduce reporting burdens on countries.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is the primary multilateral fund for climate adaptation and mitigation in developing countries. It operates through accredited entities and National Designated Authorities (NDAs), with a target of splitting funding equally between adaptation and mitigation. While it lacks a formal exclusion list for polluting technologies, it employs investment criteria to avoid high-emission infrastructure. Civil society organizations, including Friends of the Earth, act as observers and advocates to ensure transparency and community involvement.

The report examines the critical role of mangrove ecosystems in Mozambique, highlighting their value in carbon sequestration, coastal protection, and supporting fisheries. It identifies significant threats from urban growth, aquaculture, and the extractive boom in oil, gas, and mining. The author argues that Mozambique's current governance is fragmented across multiple ministries, leading to weak enforcement of environmental laws. The document advocates for the use of ecosystem valuation, Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs), and 'Blue Carbon' financing to incentivize conservation and reconcile economic growth with ecological sustainability.

The document examines Mozambique's transition from aid dependence to potential resource-based sovereignty following the discovery of over 100 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in the Rovuma Basin. It argues that while the 'gas boom' offers a significant opportunity for poverty alleviation and industrialization, the country faces risks of the 'resource curse' and 'Dutch disease' due to high levels of corruption and a history of 'mega-projects' that have failed to provide broad-based benefits. The author emphasizes the need for transparent governance, the renegotiation of inequitable contracts, and a strategic balance between LNG exports and domestic industrial use to ensure tangible benefits for the general population.

The IAI Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) report details the selection of 10 international CRN3 teams and the ongoing effort to integrate social and natural sciences into regional research. It highlights a critical shortage of SAC members, with six vacancies opening in June 2013, and discusses the adoption of 'Future Earth' as a framework for global sustainability and the integration of the SAC with the new IAI Science Liaison Office in Brazil.

The document examines Nigeria's energy subsidy regime, focusing on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), household kerosene (hhK), and electricity. It highlights the immense fiscal burden on the government, with fuel subsidies alone estimated at over ₦2 trillion in 2011. The guide argues that these universal subsidies disproportionately benefit higher-income earners and are plagued by systemic corruption, such as inflated import claims and the diversion of kerosene to black markets. It also notes that under-pricing of energy has stifled investment in refining and power infrastructure, leading to high reliance on private generators and significant gas flaring. The document outlines the government's transition toward cost-reflective electricity tariffs via the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) and the attempted removal of gasoline subsidies through the SURE-P program, while providing international lessons on gradual price liberalization and targeted social compensation.

The document examines China's strategic pursuit of resource security in Africa, primarily focusing on oil and strategic minerals. It details the 'Angola mode' of infrastructure-for-resources deals and the complex internal bureaucracy of Chinese resource diplomacy. While acknowledging positive contributions to hard infrastructure, the paper highlights concerns regarding debt sustainability, environmental degradation, and the potential for 'no strings attached' loans to undermine governance reforms in neo-patrimonial regimes.

The document examines the tension between the operational needs of South Africa's intelligence community and the democratic imperatives of openness and accountability. It analyzes the legal frameworks governing the sector, including the 1994 White Paper on Intelligence and the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA), while critiquing the proposed Protection of Information Bill for its potentially overbroad definitions of 'national interest'. The report highlights the role of the Inspector General of Intelligence in providing civilian oversight and discusses the need to narrow the mandate of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to prevent political interference. It concludes that while intelligence is essential for state security, it must be strictly regulated by the rule of law to prevent the abuses characteristic of the apartheid era.